Seoul: South Korea's exports of agricultural and food products have experienced a 5 percent increase in the first ten months of 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by heightened demand across the Middle East, the European Union (EU), and North America. This data was released on Friday, highlighting a significant rise in outbound shipments, which reached a total of US$8.59 billion from January to October, up from $8.18 billion in the same period last year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs compiled the data showing a substantial increase in shipments to various regions. Exports to the Middle East surged by 20.4 percent over the ten-month period, while those to the EU and North America increased by 14.8 percent and 13.9 percent, respectively. Notably, exports to the United States saw only a marginal increase of 0.6 percent between July and October, attributed to escalating U.S. tariffs. However, during the same period, shipments to the Middle East jumped by 23.5 percent, fueled by strong demand for Korean ice cream, beverages, and sauces.

The data also indicates robust growth in exports to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which collectively expanded by 7.7 percent on-year over the four-month period. The popularity of instant noodles, known as "ramyeon" in Korean, contributed significantly, with exports soaring by 62.9 percent. Overall, ramyeon exports climbed by 21.7 percent on-year, reaching $520 million from July to October.

Additionally, shipments of coffee products increased by 21.3 percent to $130 million, and kimchi exports rose by 6.4 percent. Exports of grapes and ice cream also saw notable growth, rising by 50.9 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively.